Ideally located midway between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, Whatcom County offers easy access to I-5, a deep-water marine port, an international airport, and railway system.
Interstate 5 is the primary highway along the West Coast and runs through three Whatcom County cities: Bellingham, Ferndale, and Blaine. I-5 takes you 50 miles north to Vancouver, BC, or about 90 miles south to Seattle, WA—giving you access to 6 million customers within an hour-and-a-half drive.
We also offer plenty of freight and trucking services to meet your transportation needs: choose from Kam-Way Transportation, TC Trans Inc., Ludtke-Pacific Trucking, and others.
Tired of being caught in traffic gridlock in the “big city?” Whatcom County offers short commutes, so you can spend less time stuck in traffic, and more time with your family.
Whatcom County offers nearly 1,700 acres of port property that includes a deepwater pier, maritime services, and Bellingham International Airport.
The Port of Bellingham offers convenient access to Puget Sound, British Columbia, and Alaskan waterways—offering you a gateway to the global marketplace, without the congestion found in other ports. The Bellingham Shipping Terminal, in particular, boasts 1,250 feet of dock space, more than 85,000 square feet of covered storage, 35 acres of available upland, and specializes in both break bulk and clean bulk cargoes. Our close proximity to Pacific Rim countries also allows your Asian shipments to reach their destination two days faster than ports to the south—giving your business a clear competitive advantage. Other nearby ports include Port Vancouver, BC, the Port of Everett, and the Port of Seattle.
The recently-expanded Bellingham International Airport serves the region’s commercial, general aviation, and corporate air transportation needs. BLI accommodates more than 900,000 travelers each year, with room to grow. Airport amenities include rental car service and UBER drivers, along with an executive conference room for fly-in meetings. Trade-related services at the airport include customs brokerage, US Customs International Terminal, FBO, aircraft maintenance, and air cargo services.
The Bellingham Cruise Terminal, located in the Historic Fairhaven District, is the southernmost terminal for the Alaska Marine Highway System–the second largest ferry system in the country. It carries more than 27,000 passengers to and from Alaska every year, and is right across the street from the Fairhaven Station, which sees 64,000 Amtrak passengers.
BNSF Railway also runs through Whatcom County, offering north/south and transcontinental freight service. The nearby Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway also offer freight and passenger rail services east across Canada.
Whatcom County has affordable and efficient electrical services provided by Puget Sound Energy. High-speed telecommunications are also widely available; technology companies in Bellingham capitalize on broadband connectivity. New businesses will also find fast and efficient municipal services from cities across the county.
